AH Android Q&A 7/8/13: Optimus G and T-Mobile, BBM on Android, and More

It’s time for another dose of our weekly feature, where you our readers ask us questions about Android, mobile or just technology in general. Since so many of us have been hardcore tech geeks for years, we know quite a bit and don’t mind passing some of our knowledge on to our readers. After all we all started out as “noobs” right? If you have any questions you can also throw them in the form at the bottom of this post, and they’ll be answered in the next edition of AH Android Q&A, or they might even get an entire tutorial depending on how popular your question is. So let’s get started with this week’s.

Luckyson asks: Why no News from any one regards to the released of Cross-platform BBM since the official supposed date (27th June, 2013) has passed?

That June 27th date was not confirmed and was only a rumor. And since it didn’t come out on June 27th, especially since Blackberry came out and said that it would not be out on that date, there really wasn’t a need for us to write anything more about it. Blackberry still has BBM on track to hit Android and iOS later this summer, as far as we know.

Luckyson also asks: Please, how do I root my Gingerbread Phone i.e Tecno n3 with Android v2.3 to Jelly Bean or any ROM as all root app. Software used by me e.g Oneclickroot, superoneclick, unlockroot, etc proofed abortive?

I’ve actually never heard of the Tecno n3 (I’m guessing it’s a phone only made for your country?). But doing a quick Google search, I found this. Which, hopefully, should help you out.

Lee asks: When will the note 2 be getting android 4.2.2?

Well Lee, last we heard Android 4.2.2 is delayed for the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3. Primarily because they are bringing the new version of Touchwiz from the Galaxy S4 to the Note 2 and Galaxy S3. But it should be heading to the Note 2 and Galaxy S3 this summer. Last we heard, was August as the latest. Now if you’re here in the US it’ll be a bit later than that due to the carriers.

Roland asks: How can I get my Optimus G to work on T Mobile’s 4G network its a unlocked international phone but I can only get 2G not 4G.

I’m assuming Roland is referring to T-Mobile USA, and their HSPA+ network. Because T-Mobile uses a different band for HSPA+ and 3G than most other carriers, it’s not supported by unlocked phones. Except for a few like the Nexus 4. The good news is that T-Mobile is refarming their 1900MHz network (to work with any GSM phone like the Optimus G) to use HSPA+ when they light up LTE in your area. So you’ll be stuck on 2G for now, but hopefully soon they’ll have the 1900MHz spectrum refarmed in your area soon.

That’s it for this week. If you’ve got a question you’re looking for an answer for, feel free to fill out the short form below and we’ll throw it into next week’s edition of AH Android Q&A.